Bent Flower Stems: How To Repair Crushed Or Bent Stems On Plants

Discussion in 'Crops & Gardens' started by Joe Riley, Jul 5, 2016.

  1. Joe Riley

    Joe Riley Supreme Member
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    Last evening, we had a lot of rain, and this morning the white Hydrangea stems on the bush were drooped and "lying low". I know that in time, they will recover and make themselves upright. I find that quite amazing. I remember reading some years ago, how there are certain plant cells in the stem whose "job" it is to straighten the stem, when it has been bent. It had something to do with gravitropic movement, and was beyond me. But I found it quite reassuring that each plant has this contingency plan built in, to recover& restore its stature.;)


    This article talks about how we can help in drastic cases where the stem is badly bent or crushed, using tape and splint to aid healing.

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  2. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    That's so pretty @Joe Riley, and good information to have. I was shocked last evening when something caught my eye out on the balcony and I observed a squirrel chewing the vine and breaking off my pink Mandevilla blooms and stealing them!! I've never seen them do that before, and I wasn't happy. I ran out and scared it off, but he absconded with two of the blooms. I'll be keeping a watchful eye out for the varmints now, and they can forget about me feeding them. The white blossoms get discolored and aren't very pretty once they start to go, but the pink ones dry out nicely, and I collect them to eventually make some potpourri.
     
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  3. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    Oh, no! Those squirrels are bandits when it comes to flowers and plants that are accessible. I've been on the warpath since they destroyed a newly planted flower and a couple of my canna lillies. There has got to be something that attracts squirrels to certain flowers and plants. Maybe they are edible or provide water which isn't easily obtainable. I also think that they sneak in the late evening hours because the damage is found the next day. I've screened my canna lillies off and so far there hasn't been any more damage maybe you can do the same at night and remove it during the day.
     
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  4. Joe Riley

    Joe Riley Supreme Member
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    Keeping Squirrels Out of the Garden
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  5. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    Ah-Ha ! ! Great article, @Joe Riley ! Now I can guess why my squash had flowers and never and squash last year. Now I don't know whether I should stop feeding the squirrels and hope they go away, or maybe feed them more, and then they will be full and not eat the flowers.
    Maybe , we just need to encourage Tootsie to chase them a little better ?
    She used to go after the squirrels, as well as the neighbor's cat; but then the cat slapped her across the face and sent poor Tootsie yelping for the house.
    Now , she just watches and give both the squirrels and the cat dirty looks.
    I think the cat might chase the squirrels; but then again, Bobby doesn't like the cat; so that plan is not a working possibility either.
    I guess maybe the bird-netting idea might be best. A nuisance to wrap things; but if it produces results, then maybe worthwhile.
    Or the vinegar spray.
    I LIKE that idea. Easy to do, not dangerous to man nor beast, and maybe will repel both bugs and squirrels.
     
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  6. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    @Von Jones How do you screen yours off? Do you have a picture I could use as a guide?

    I have actually sprayed those exact plants with a vinegar/water/dish soap mixture, to get rid of the mites/aphids/whatever they were, and that worked, although i think I'm seeing a few of them again. It's probably past time to re-spray, and maybe that will discourage the squirrels. I've had the white Mandevilla up there for years, without any apparent issues with the squirrels, but for some reason, it seemed particularly attracted to the pink one. I don't know if maybe they're sweeter, if they have nectar or what, but I wasn't happy to see it biting on the vine/stems and absconding with my blossoms!
     
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  7. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    @Diane Lane, here are photos. I scoured my scrap pile and found some window screen and one other type. It's not very attractive and I could have done a better job but my intent was to hurry and get something in place.
     

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